The debate around the Arctic is becoming hotter than ever as US President Donald Trump insists Greenland should become part of the United States. Security, shipping routes and mineral wealth are all in the mix.

Europe tensions over Greenland as possibly helping to achieve its long-sought goal of weakening NATO, but Donald Trump’s second administration has also frustrated Russian plans on Ukraine and other fronts.

The United States is accusing Russia of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of the nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to advance negotiations toward peace.

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's lower house of parliament on Wednesday approved a move to withdraw from a landmark agreement with the United States aimed at reducing vast stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium left over from thousands of Cold War nuclear warheads.

The development deepens the confrontation over the tanker formerly known as the Bella 1, which the United States wants to seize but which Russia has sought to protect.

Russia reports no dedicated negotiations with United States prior to New START treaty’s February expiry. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted Moscow awaits formal response to President Putin’s proposal for one year voluntary extension,